USA Today Bestselling Author Alicia Hunter Pace New Release Sweet Gone South

by | Apr 9, 2020 | Guests, Real Stories by Real People

Today let’s welcome Alicia Hunter Pace and their new release SWEET GONE SOUTH! USA Today Bestselling Author Alicia Hunter Pace is the pen name of Stephanie Jones and Jean Hovey, who write together.

I’m going off the normal schedule I have planned (the first and second Tuesday of the month) because I am sharing authors at any time and always leave my calendar open for new releases. With SWEET GONE SOUTH, what better time than now? Especially because this includes an excerpt of a scene from Easter Sunday. I’m excited to share this with you!

Thank you so much to Angela for inviting us to visit with you on her blog.  We are excited to be here and look forward to visiting with you all.

Yesterday, my god daughter, who is now thirty-five years old, the mother of two, and teaches sixth grade, texted me a picture of herself wearing her high school cheerleader uniform in the “Ready? Okay!” stance.

Weird stuff. It’s a sign of the times—social distancing times. I didn’t sit down to write about what’s going on with all of us these days, but then how could I not? It’s the life we’re living right now. We’re bored, we’re anxious, and we’ve got cabin fever, so we’re doing weird stuff.

At least my god daughter and I are.

Though it’s out of character for me, I have taken to watching Billy Dean Facebook concerts that he broadcasts from the deck of his house. If you don’t know who that is, he had some hits in the 90’s. I liked him at the time, but I don’t even know how I came to know about this. It’s not like I have been stalking him all these years. Maybe there is a little elf who comes to me in the night and whispers in my ear. But I’m glad he did, because it’s fun.

I also ordered eight salad plates with bunny rabbits on them, though I won’t have eight people to serve salad to on Easter.

I found myself looking at some ads for some really cute clothes, and thinking, “So what if they’re from one of those companies that have great pictures and awful clothes? How bad could it be?” I did not carry through. Maybe it was the elf who stopped me.

This might be the worst thing I’ve done: I incited my friend to order a pack of thirty-six rolls of wrapping paper (in six designs) to split with me—because that’s exactly what we need: eighteen rolls of wrapping paper each to add to what we already have. (We both have a wrapping paper problem, but that’s another blog.)

I guess we’re all getting through the best way we know how. Someone asked me what I was going to do when all this is over. I thought a minute and said, “I’ll probably go back to tearing around all over town going to this unimportant event or that, worrying about my husband on his commute to work, and making plans for one meal at a time and going to the grocery store every day.”

Don’t get me wrong. I want this to be over as much as anyone—mostly for those of you who are on the frontlines while my husband is able to work from the dining room table, the teenager goes to school online, and I get to be home ordering grocery delivery and doing weird stuff.

But, when better times come, I’m going to try to save some of the shiny parts of the slow down: better meal planning, being more frugal with what I’ve got on hand, and taking to time to watch a concert just because it makes me smile.

I wish you all safety and good health—mental, physical, and spiritual.

As Easter approaches, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into the holiday from Sweet Gone South.

What have you done different from your normal routine?

Excerpt

Easter Sunday.

There were lilies on the altar, the music was soothing, and the bells rang sweet. Behind her, Lanie heard a quiet chuckle go through the crowd. Highly unusual. Episcopalians were taught at an early age not to talk, laugh, or fidget after entering the sanctuary. This was a time to prepare to worship. Lanie resisted turning around, which was also against the rules—until she felt an insistent little finger tapping her shoulder.

She gave her head a quarter turn, and there sat Emma Avery—in a bee costume, complete with antennae, yellow and black tights, and little black shoes. Lanie bit her lip and met Emma’s bright smile. Then she slid her eyes to the left. Pressed and perfect Luke Avery didn’t look so pressed and perfect this morning. He looked like a man who had fought a war—a bad one. His hair lay in messy curls all over his head, his tie was crooked, and his face was damp with perspiration. He met her eyes and shook his head helplessly.

During the children’s moment, when all the preschoolers went to the altar to gather around Father Gregory, there were more chuckles throughout the congregation. As Emma sat among the other children wearing their smocked and embroidered finery, Father Gregory smiled broadly and said something about all God’s creatures gathering on Easter Sunday. When Emma passed Lanie on the way back to Luke, she leaned in and whispered, “Buzz.” Throughout the rest of the service—hymns, sermon, prayers, communion—Lanie fought her laughter. By golly, Emma had said she was “’posed to be honeybee,” and she was.

Luke and Emma were just stepping onto the sidewalk when Lanie descended the steps.

Emma jumped up and down and waved to Lanie. Luke looked like a man who wanted to leave the country. Town matriarch, genteel Caroline Brantley stopped and laid her hand on Emma’s cheek. Emma turned her bottom toward Miss Caroline and pretended to sting her. Miss Caroline threw back her head and laughed with delight. She patted Luke’s arm before moving on.

“Lanie! Here I am!” Emma called.

“I see you.” Lanie bent to accept her hug.

“Buzzz!” She bumped Lanie’s leg with her little soft sculpture stinger.

“Ouch! You stung me,” Lanie said.

“I stinged Father Greg too!”

“Yes,” Luke said wearily. “You’ve done a fine job of stinging today.” Emma stung Luke, probably not for the first time, before turning her attention back to Lanie.

“I’m going to Beau’s house. I’ll see the Easter bunny and find eggs.”

“No kidding? Guess what? I’m going to Beau’s house too.” She’d known they were going to Missy’s Easter brunch. She’d made Emma’s chocolate place card. But lots of people were going.

“Yay!” Emma turned to Luke. “Lanie’s going to Beau’s!”

“I heard. Do you think she’s going to have her picture taken with the Easter bunny?”

Just then, Miley Sanders and her little girl, Teresa, walked by in their matching floral mother/daughter dresses. Emma studied them for a second.

“Lanie, can you to be the same as me?”

“Hmm. That might be fun. But I don’t have a honeybee suit.”

“My daddy will buy you one.”

Lanie looked at Luke, who rolled his eyes and looked heavenward.

“That might be nice,” Lanie said. “But all the stores are closed and there’s no place to buy a honeybee suit today.”

“Oh.” Emma looked disappointed.

“I might have another idea. We wouldn’t be exactly the same, but I have a blue dress and you have your beautiful new blue dress. We could go home and put them on before we go to Beau’s.”

“I’m ’posed to be honeybee.”

“And you already have been. You’ve done a wonderful job of being honeybee. Now you can be the girl who wears her new blue dress.”

She considered for a moment. “Okay.”

Luke’s eyes met Lanie’s. “Okay? Just like that? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through this morning?”

“I might,” Lanie said.

Thank you to USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Alicia Hunter Pace for being with us today! Be sure to click the book above to be taken to their Amazon page! Or find other links here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086M7NSB7

Apple Books: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1505868651 

B&N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1113795094?ean=2940163871056 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sweet-gone-south-4 

D2D Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/bQRXxZ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52860328-sweet-gone-south

Finding Inspiration

by | Oct 22, 2019 | Guests

by Lynn Crandall w/a Kelynn Storm

Angela’s note: Today I welcome a fellow writer and friend, Lynn Crandall, to my blog as she talks about her newest release and where she finds inspiration. Welcome, Lynn/Kelynn! So happy to have you here!

Writing is often referred to as a passion, and it is just that for me. I love the process most of all, but of course I also enjoy learning that readers find something they like about the stories I write. But writing is a business too. It can take a lot of me to write the kind of thought-provoking, multi-layered stories I strive for. Some days self-doubt may claw at my motivation and I drag myself to my computer and feel like an empty pit. I try to nourish my writing soul on a regular basis, but during those empty-feeling days, I turn to a list of inspiring tactics to juice my muse.

  • Pinterest – Not to plug any particular program but for me, Pinterest is a place to visit to take a break from thinking in words to view life through images. I love finding fun, beautiful, quirky, whatever is the need, pins for my boards, particularly boards for my books. It’s easy, it can be instantly gratifying, and it’s fast.
  • Fresh air – There is very little that nourishes the soul as easily and fully as immersing in nature. I like to start the day with biking or hiking or just sitting in my back yard no matter the temperature. Even a few minutes of nature can boost my muse.
  • Pay attention – I have a few things in my writing space that help me feel connected to writing, so it helps me focus down to look intentionally at those things. For instance, I turn on my aroma diffuser, take notice of the hearts strung near my desk, and read some of the sayings and quotes that ground me. My present favorite is You’ve Got This!
  • Playlist – Whenever I start a new book I always make a new playlist of songs that align with the story. I can turn on the playlist and drop right into the tone, setting, and pace of the story. The music helps me experience the story as if I were one of the characters. In Touch of Breeze is releasing today (Yay!). It is a fast-paced drive from beginning to end. The characters are tossed into intensity and danger and must fight their way to their happy ending. I wanted music that would take me along just as fast and furiously as I built the story. Here’s a short-list of the songs on the Touch of Breeze playlist:

All of these ways help me stay in tune with my writing. But writing itself, for me, is what draws me back to the page to pound out a story. When I’m particularly despairing about how to go on or how to find the story worth writing, or how to find an audience, I may even think I’ll stop writing for good. But soon, the quote I heard once proves true: If you’re truly a writer, you can’t quit. Barring injury or illness, it seems true, but maybe not even then.

Touch of Breeze Blurb:

A rare white were-jaguar, she’s on a mission to save her twin brother from certain death. She didn’t plan on teaming up with a Jag Guardian who would just as soon break her heart.

Mortician London Satos works with the dead by choice. Using her were-jag ability to witness their final moments, she helps them pass over in peace. Those special moments contrast greatly with the life she leads haunted by an ancient Japanese spirit with revenge on his mind. On top of that, her twin brother is missing. Just when she thinks she has enough on her hands, Breeze Dawson stumbles into her path. Compelled by a guilty conscious, she thinks she must help him survive the evil spirit, but it doesn’t stop there. She is forced to team up with him to rescue her brother from an evil madman intent on using him to fulfill a diabolical prophesy.

Recently suspended from his job as a Jag Guardian, were-jaguar Breeze finds himself looking for anything to distract him from his troubled life. So when the beautifully captivating mortician needs help fighting battles on several fronts, he finds himself embroiled in a murderous plot that not only threatens his Guardian team but the supernatural community in general. Together, Breeze and London race to locate the mad man’s stronghold where he’s holding London’s brother, all the while fighting mutual attraction that will only complicate everything.

 

Excerpt:

“I am a Guardian of the Jag Council. Do you know what that is?” Breeze lifted his brows.

“Of course I do,” London said. “The Council is an organization of seven elders who govern our kind and work in concert with other shifter councils to promote peace, justice, and protection among supernaturals. Under the elders, the Guardians serve our community of jag-shifters.”

“You sound like you’ve read our website.”

“Funny. I’m Japanese American. My parents taught me to keep informed.” She knew there was no website or any other way to trace the presence of her jag community. She didn’t belong to a prowl of jaguars, but her parents did. Their group was a source of information. “Does knowing you’re a guardian tell me who you are?” she asked. She caught the little drop in his eyelids when she asked the question.

The air in the room got thin. She held her breath, waiting.

“To know who I am would take a lot longer than I have,” he said, his voice muted. He looked away. “That thing that follows you around attacked my team while they were attempting to make a rescue. It and the Crew wounded members of my team and kidnapped one.” He turned back to look deep into her eyes and her blood pumped hard in her body. “Are you familiar with Wentworth’s Crew?”

“I know the stories.”

“Then you know Wentworth is a treasure hunter turned trophy hunter. He’s killing and kidnapping shifters. The word from the Council is he’s following a prophecy. On one of his treasure hunts he found an ancient script that promised immortality to those who complete certain tasks. We believe Wentworth’s recent activities regard that prophecy. What about your brother might have attracted the attention of Maxwell Wentworth?”

“My brother and I are white jaguars.” She watched for her news to register.

Breeze sighed heavily. “Rare. So you know what happened to your brother,” he stated rather than asked.

“I saw the men take him. They’ve come after me and tried to capture me in my home. But I do not know where the men have taken him.”

 

Bio:

Lynn Crandall writing as Kelynn Storm lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her cat. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, award-winning author she tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul. She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cats, Willow and Winter.

Buy Links:

All other buy links:

Find Lynn Crandall aka Kelynn Storm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KelynnStorm/?modal=admin_todo_tour, Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19477691.Kelynn_Storm, Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lynncrandallwriter/touch-of-breeze-the-common-elements-project/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lcrandall246/ @lcrandall246, BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kelynn-storm, and her website at https://www.lynn-crandall.com/

Dancing with Detective Danger, by Lynn Crandall

by | Apr 20, 2017 | Guests

dancing-with-detective-danger-cover

 

Strong Women Have Heart.

Uncovering secrets and exposing truth are all in a day’s work for private investigator Sterling Aegar. But when her latest case threatens to reveal her own buried feelings for an old love, Sterling runs for cover.

A body in the bathtub and pleas from a jilted wife to find her wayward husband mean a welcome break from the usual humdrum cases Sterling and her sister, Lacey, are called to investigate. But when Sterling’s old flame, Detective Ben Kirby, walks into the murder scene, she feels her world spin out of control. Danger from thugs and murderers poses no greater threat than the peril she’d suffer if she lets daredevil Ben get too close.

Seeing Sterling for the first time in two years is for Ben like drinking in a healing tonic. He could never forget the way it felt to run his hands over her delicious curves or the way she touched his soul. She remains the one person who can make the emptiness in his gut go away. Finding the murderer is his job, but protecting Sterling from seriously dangerous people is his mission.

As the case unfolds, Sterling and Ben not only try to solve the murder, they confront secrets that offer to set them each free from a painful past.

Links:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/UUbKNNxOe3w

 

Simon & Schuster http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Dancing-with-Detective-Danger/Lynn-Crandall/9781440564062

 

Amazon http://a.co/6Gw0o4G

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LynnCrandallAuthor/

www.lynn-crandall.com

@lcrandall246

 

 

Author bio:

Lynn Crandall lives in the Midwest and writes in the company of her two cats. She has been a reader and a writer all her life. Her background is in journalism, but whether writing a magazine or newspaper story or creating a romance, she loves the power stories hold to transport, inspire, and uplift. In her romances, she focuses on vulnerable, embraceable characters who don’t back down. She hopes that readers discover, over and over, stories of ordinary people who face ordinary life challenges and are transformed by extraordinary love.

 

The Rogue’s Prize by, Katherine Bone

by | May 14, 2016 | Guests

The Rogue’s Prize by by Katherine Bone
The Nelson’s Tea Series; Book 2
256 Pages
Published: December 16, 2014
Published by: EsKape Press Publishing


Blurb:
An unlikely alliance earns Henry the ultimate prize…


Captain

Henry Guffald is no ordinary sea captain. A member of Nelson’s Tea, he’s been
ordered to rescue a comrade captured in Spain. The rescue is Henry’s last chance
to prove his loyalty to Admiral Nelson. Not so easy a task when the job entails
joining forces with a female pirate.


Lady


Adele Seaton would no sooner give up the call to rove than marry, contrary to
her father’s wishes. When news arrives that her brother has been captured in
Spain, Adele quickly develops a plan to rescue him and sets sail to intercept
the first royal navy ship she encounters. A brilliant tactician, she doesn’t
count on meeting her match in a navy captain bound and determined to outwit her
at every turn. Can a pirate be tamed?




Purchase Links:
Amazon US : AU : CA : UK   


Excerpt:


“Captain! Captain!”


Henry spun on his heel at the frantic sound of his first mate’s voice. Lieutenant Lucas Winters rushed toward him, sword drawn, his hat askew, eyebrows fretfully knit together, his mouth set in a scowl. It was the same expression the man had worn when he’d forewarned the Dragon was being boarded by pirates. What the deuce was happening now?
Hair rose on the back of Henry’s neck. “Mr. Winters, what has you in such a state?”
Winters’ face turned ashen, and his eyes lit with feral purpose. “There’s a problem below, sir.”
“What kind of problem?” Dreading the answer, Henry drew his own sword.
“We’ve a breach, sir. Several of the prisoners have escaped.”
“Escaped?” he bellowed. His blood began to boil. “Out of an iron cage? How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“I gave strict orders the prisoners were not to be left unguarded.”
Enraged by the incompetence of his men, Henry followed Winters down the gangway to the next deck, hurrying as fast as his laborious gait allowed. Damn the useless appendage!
“Where are the guards?” His gaze traveled the length of the deck, finding it empty. “When I said not to let those pirates out of your sight, I meant it.”
“Your orders were carried out to the letter, sir. Still, this development—”
“What development?” he spat.
“This one.”
This strange, new voice knotted Henry’s gut. He stiffened.
Winters looked to Henry’s right. Taking his lead, Henry turned with his sword drawn, prepared for whatever fight would soon befall him. He heard a ping of clanging steel and felt a powerful weight thrust against his sword. He shifted back then stepped forward, lunging as the two blades chinked together, slicing the distance between captain and foe, creating sparks that fired, faded, and then sparked anew.
His opponent moved with lithe grace, whipping his cloak about him and then retreated just as Henry had gotten another foothold. Lurching forward, Henry challenged each lunge more aggressively than the last, taking note of his adversary’s skill. Tall and lean, the masked pirate thrust a gleaming weapon close to Henry’s shoulder then took a step near his side as he skirted around a wooden cask.
Sidestepping another advance, Henry moved forward, dipping low, using his good leg to support his retaliation. Yet again, his efforts were challenged with an agility that surprised him. Changing tactic, he spun on his good heel and brought his sword down in a thunderous swoop, carving wood as his quick-footed enemy dodged his thrusts with uncanny agility.
There was an odd familiarity about the way his opponent fought, a methodic grace he’d practiced with only one other. But that was impossible because that man was in Spain, waiting on the ransom Henry still had to acquire. Yet, the swift turn of his attacker’s wrist, the flexible maneuver of the arm, and the parry behind an arched back illustrated Garrick Seaton’s trademark thrust.
Another well-aimed lob ricocheted off of Henry’s blade, redirecting his thoughts, sparking the twilight with brilliant light. Alarmed, Henry doubled back, retreating toward the Dragon’s rails. His enemy marched toward him. Lightning flashed, momentarily blinding them. Henry took advantage, quickly taking the upper hand, settling his blade against his opponent’s breast bones.
“Tell your men to stand down.”
The pirate moved toward him, baiting him to slide the blade home. Was defeat so horrible a cost that death was a better option? Henry drew back his sword slightly so as not to draw blood. He didn’t want to kill the man, only glean what he could about the Black Belle, who captained it, and where it hailed from. Though he already suspected the truth. He also wanted to know how the vermin had escaped his brig.
His attacker moved menacingly forward again.
“Stay where you are, or I will be forced to drop you where you stand.”
“Surrender is not an option, Captain.”



Meet Katherine Bone~


I’m addicted to history and romance! Raised an Army brat, I had the great fortune to marry an officer and travel the world. After raising four children and putting down roots, the muse came calling with abandon, complete with swashbuckling adventure and mayhem. 

And so, dear reader, it’s my greatest hope that my stories resonate with you and offer an escape you will always remember. For it’s never too late to turn pirate, eh?


If you’d like to follow my adventures on the literary seas, come aboard and sign up for my Rogues, Rebels & Rakes Newsletter.


Connect with Katherine~


~Enter our month long Giveaway~

Tangled Up In You, by A.L. Vincent

by | May 13, 2016 | Guests

Tangled Up In You by A.L. Vincent
Fleur de Lis Series; Book 1
258 Pages
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Blurb:
Emily Breaux’s abusive, alcoholic husband keeps drinking away her dreams… 

When he cleans out their bank account once too often, Emily packs her meager belongings and returns to her hometown of Bon Chance, Louisiana. Surrounded by the love and support of a group of old friends—collectively known as The Boonies—she’s determined to change her life and open her own catering company. 

Contractor Noah Devereaux wants to help Emily rebuild more than just her family home… 

Noah is an Iraq war veteran and fighting his own battle with PTSD, and he feels he has little to offer anyone. His nightmares and panic attacks leave him exhausted and on edge, yet he can’t help but find solace in Emily’s quiet presence. 

Everyone has dreams, but it takes more than a wish to make them come true… 

Emily struggles night and day to scrape together the money to start her business, but this doesn’t stop her friendship with Noah from blooming into something much more. He’s always there to cheer her on, and she’s his bit of tranquility for untangling his troubled mind. 

It turns out starting over isn’t easy. Was coming back to Bon Chance a horrible mistake, a sign of failing to make it in the larger world? 

But all her friends have returned as well, so maybe—just maybe—having the courage to go back to the beginning will prove the ingredients for a life of love and happiness have been waiting here all along…

Purchase Links:
Amazon US : AU : CA : UK  
        *Available in Kindle Unlimited

Meet A.L. Vincent ~
A.L. Vincent is a teacher/writer who lives in the heart of Cajun Country. Born in Oklahoma, A.L. became fascinated with South Louisiana after reading Interview With the Vampire. Finally, she became a Cajun transplant in 2001. When not getting lost in a storyline, A.L. can be found cooking or enjoying live local music. A.L. has one son, and a furball of a dog aptly named Furby.
Connect with A.L.~
~Enter our month long Giveaway~